◎She finally knows his name, Xie Lingshu, you are indeed him◎

Hearing that unhesitating word “kill,” Luo Wanqing’s heart suddenly tightened.

She couldn’t help but say: “Do you know that you’re asking me to send you to your death?”

“Liu Xiniang,” Xie Heng’s tone was flat, “you didn’t use the proper address.”

These words made Luo Wanqing freeze, realizing that Xie Heng was reminding her that she had taken him for someone else.

She must use the proper address when speaking to Xie Heng.

This silent denial made Luo Wanqing press her lips tightly together. Xie Heng continued: “Stay clear-headed. You’ve been wound too tight for too long.”

From Cui Heng’s death until now, she had entered the forest alone, then been confined with him in this sunless place for nearly five days.

She had lived with her nerves constantly taut, suppressing Cui Heng’s death in her heart for too long. Any ordinary person would find it difficult to maintain their sanity under such circumstances.

During these days, it had always been her urging Xie Heng to stay clear-headed. Now it was finally Xie Heng’s turn to urge her.

She knew Xie Heng was right, forcing herself to suppress all her thoughts. Seeming to calm down, she only said: “Yes… Thank you for the reminder, Young Master.”

Both fell silent. After a moment, Xie Heng spoke: “Let’s go out.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t move.

Xie Heng raised his eyes: “Is there something else?”

“Young Master,” Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then took the short flute that Cui Heng had given her from around her neck and placed it in Xie Heng’s wounded hands. “If there’s any emergency, please blow this flute. I’ll come immediately.”

Xie Heng gripped the short flute, his tone somewhat bitter: “His belongings, you just give them away so casually?”

“Not casually,” Luo Wanqing explained. “I think the living are more important. Young Master’s safety is what matters.”

These words left Xie Heng speechless, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

What she said wasn’t wrong, but he just felt uncomfortable about it.

After hesitating for only a moment, he heard her continue: “But please take good care of it, Young Master. I will come to retrieve it.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng’s voice finally softened somewhat in the night, answering softly: “Alright.”

“Also,” Luo Wanqing seemed still worried, wanting to give him the Qianji bead bracelet from her wrist, “This bracelet…”

“I’m not seriously injured. You don’t need to worry,” Xie Heng saw the bracelet and lowered his voice to instruct, “What’s most important now is that you survive, get Xie Minran’s internal energy in hand, and hold out until Cui Heng attacks Jirui Palace to join forces with him.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing raised her eyes and finally confirmed: “Young Master is unharmed?”

“I’m fine.”

Getting a definite answer, Luo Wanqing couldn’t tell whether she felt disappointed or relieved.

But thinking that Xie Heng’s words shouldn’t be false—if he were injured, he couldn’t have given her so much true qi these past four days.

Xie Heng had actively entered Jirui Palace. Since he was fine, he naturally had his arrangements. So she also set her mind at ease and said softly: “Yes.”

With that, the night watch sounded outside. Luo Wanqing knew the time had come. She adjusted her clothes, bowed, and said: “Young Master, I’m going.”

Xie Heng didn’t look up at her, only saying: “Go.”

“Does Young Master have any other instructions?”

Hearing this inquiry, Xie Heng pondered for a moment, then spoke softly in the darkness: “Please ask for a lamp for me.”

Luo Wanqing nodded upon hearing this, then raised her hand and knocked on the main door.

The sound of knocking on the iron door echoed in the cell. After a moment, the door suddenly opened, and blinding light instantly fell into Luo Wanqing’s eyes. After adapting to the light for a moment, she saw the person approaching.

Ji Ruifang wore a gorgeous Kunlun flying celestial dress, sitting on a gilt chair. Behind her followed two rows of maidservants, all staring coldly at Luo Wanqing.

“I thought you had died in there.” Ji Ruifang swept Luo Wanqing up and down, then raised her hand: “Come here.”

“Palace Master,” Luo Wanqing looked at Ji Ruifang, speaking hoarsely, “Are you taking me to see Xie Minran?”

“Yes.”

Ji Ruifang smiled, saying gently: “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. I’m just taking a little bit of your internal energy.”

“Internal energy cannot be partially extracted.”

Luo Wanqing spoke. Ji Ruifang’s face bore a smile, but she said, “My mental technique is unique. Minran knows the method—he won’t cripple you.”

“Even if I’m crippled, it doesn’t matter.”

At these words, Ji Ruifang couldn’t help but sit up straight, finally showing some interest: “Are you speaking truly?”

“But I want Palace Master to promise me two things.”

“Speak.”

“First, I want Palace Master to release Young Master.”

Luo Wanqing spoke with certainty. Ji Ruifang glanced at Xie Heng, thought for a moment, then nodded: “Alright.”

“The second thing,” Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at the lamp, speaking softly with some grief in her eyes, “Please grant Young Master a candle lamp so that Young Master may see me once.”

Ji Ruifang paused slightly upon hearing this, thought for a moment, then continued nodding: “Acceptable.”

With that, she waved her hand, having someone light a new lamp and send it into the cell.

Seeing the lamp enter the cell, Luo Wanqing felt relieved. Ji Ruifang saw this and raised her hand, commanding: “Come forward.”

This time, Luo Wanqing said no more, stepping forward to kneel before Ji Ruifang and extending her hand.

Ji Ruifang felt her pulse for a moment, quite satisfied: “Your Yin Moon cultivation is complete.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her head without speaking. Ji Ruifang raised her eyes to glance into the room, seeing Xie Heng taking the lamp, standing up, and placing it on the candlestick behind him, not looking at them.

Her gaze returned to Luo Wanqing, with some sympathy, then she stood up, only saying: “Take one more look at your Young Master, then let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing turned around upon hearing this, seeing Xie Heng in the cell.

The lamplight finally illuminated this prison cell, and what she saw first was the mottled blood covering the floor.

All that blood had been left by him during these days. She followed the bloodstains to the wall and finally saw his figure.

He was much thinner than the last time she had seen him. A blood-stained single robe was practically hanging on his body. His back was turned to her as he used her Qianji hairpin to adjust the lamp wick—the silhouette somehow carried a sense of desolation.

This single robe was tattered and worn, but Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered the wedding attire Cui Heng had worn the day he fell into the water.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t tell if this single robe resembled the inner garment of Cui Heng’s wedding clothes from that day.

That day, they had met too hurriedly. In her final glance, she hadn’t had time to look at him carefully.

She just stared fixedly at his back that resembled Cui Heng’s but was even more gaunt. After a long time, she bowed to Xie Heng: “Young Master, this subordinate is leaving.”

Xie Heng responded, never turning around.

He calmly picked at his flesh and blood, listening to Luo Wanqing follow Ji Ruifang as they walked away.

When he could no longer hear their footsteps, his face pale, suppressing his gasping breath, he used the Qianji hairpin to scrape the surface of his bones bit by bit into powder, pouring it into the candlefire.

Luo Wanqing was completely unaware of his actions, only bowing her head as she followed Ji Ruifang outward.

Ji Ruifang led her through the dungeon, walking up a long corridor carpeted in red. This corridor had high walls painted with gold powder, displaying an architectural style completely different from the Central Plains.

Luo Wanqing examined the murals on the walls when she suddenly heard Ji Ruifang speak: “Are you sad?”

Luo Wanqing turned to look, seeing Ji Ruifang staring at her: “You asked for a lamp so he could see you one last time. Do you think you actually won’t survive?”

Luo Wanqing immediately knew Ji Ruifang was suspicious. After thinking, she only said: “I’ve heard about Wei Xiao’e’s matter.”

Ji Ruifang’s expression grew slightly cooler. Luo Wanqing continued: “She died.”

Wei Xiao’e had died from having her Yin Moon cultivation absorbed by Xie Minran. She didn’t believe Xie Minran truly only wanted some of her internal energy.

Ji Ruifang wasn’t surprised to hear this, only saying: “So you’re prepared to trade your life for Xie Heng’s?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’m deceiving you?”

“I know Palace Master Ji is a good person.”

Luo Wanqing answered without the slightest hesitation.

Ji Ruifang looked at her coolly, seeming somewhat displeased, her tone turning cold: “Then you should know that Xie Heng is not a good person.”

“I know.” Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes, seeming somewhat sad. “If he truly cared for me, he wouldn’t have let me cultivate the Yin Moon technique.”

Without the Yin Moon cultivation, she might still have had a chance at survival.

Now that she had completed the Yin Moon cultivation, she was destined to be consumed as Xie Minran’s medicinal material.

Ji Ruifang couldn’t help but sneer softly: “And you still want to seek a way out for him?”

“Whether Young Master likes me or not is Young Master’s business. That I like Young Master is my business.”

Luo Wanqing answered without hesitation. Ji Ruifang fell silent for a moment, finally smiling mockingly: “I knew you were a fool.”

Hearing Ji Ruifang’s words, Luo Wanqing turned to look at her. After thinking, she said softly, “But I also know Palace Master is a good person.”

“I’m going to kill you, and I’m still a good person?”

Ji Ruifang looked over coldly. Luo Wanqing was very certain, only saying: “Palace Master feels guilty toward me, and also toward Wei Xiao’e. Having compassion in one’s heart makes one a good person.”

Hearing this, Ji Ruifang fell silent.

She thought for a moment, smiled self-mockingly, but didn’t respond.

The two arrived at a large door, one after the other. This door was twice as tall as Luo Wanqing, a red door painted with golden patterns. Ji Ruifang had people push open the door, leading Luo Wanqing alone inside, then waved her hand: “Proceed according to plan. Everyone out.”

Hearing “plan,” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but glance at Ji Ruifang.

Ji Ruifang led her into the room, calling: “Come in.”

Luo Wanqing followed into the room and discovered it was a huge bedroom, divided into inner and outer chambers. The inner chamber was blocked by gauze curtains, with only the shadow of a bed faintly visible.

The outer chamber was for receiving guests, not much different from an ordinary bedroom’s outer chamber. The only difference was a bare wall with iron shackles hanging on it.

“Come here,” Ji Ruifang said, walking to the table and picking up a bowl of medicinal soup.

Luo Wanqing hesitantly stepped forward. Ji Ruifang handed it to her, commanding: “Drink this bowl of medicine.”

Luo Wanqing held the medicinal soup without moving. Just by smelling it, she could tell this was an extremely powerful sedative.

It would make a person completely unable to move, but their consciousness would remain clear.

“Drink it,” Ji Ruifang promised, “and you’ll have a good sleep. I’ll have Minran spare your life. When you wake up, I’ll let you and Xie Heng go.”

Luo Wanqing gripped the medicine bowl without moving. She absolutely could not drink this medicine.

If she drank it, she would truly be at their mercy.

Seeing her motionless, Ji Ruifang raised her eyes coldly: “What’s wrong?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. She couldn’t let Ji Ruifang discover that she already knew there was a problem with the medicine.

Right now Ji Ruifang was being merciful out of pity and not making things too ugly. Once they tore off the mask, she had no ability to fight Ji Ruifang head-on.

But if she didn’t drink, what reason could she give for not drinking?

Luo Wanqing gripped the medicine bowl, her heart racing. Just then, a maidservant’s urgent voice came from outside: “Palace Master, trouble! Xie Heng has filled the dungeon with poison…”

Before the words finished, Ji Ruifang suddenly struck at Luo Wanqing. Luo Wanqing simultaneously retreated rapidly, splashing the medicinal soup directly at Ji Ruifang!

Ji Ruifang dodged the medicinal soup sideways and immediately sent the medicine bowl flying back at Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing avoided Ji Ruifang’s first strike, moving like a startled rabbit, rolling and leaping toward the window!

But before she could leap out the window, a silk sash came like a shadow, wrapping around her waist. Luo Wanqing felt her waist tighten, then a tremendous force pulled her back, slamming her heavily against the wall.

Then Ji Ruifang was before her, palms falling like rain, while shouting: “Close the door!”

The maidservant hurriedly shut the main door. Luo Wanqing desperately parried Ji Ruifang’s rapid strikes.

Ji Ruifang’s internal energy was extremely deep, but she didn’t deliberately break Luo Wanqing’s bones to completely eliminate her ability to fight back. Instead, she repeatedly tried to find her pressure points or capture her vital spots to threaten her.

After several probes, Luo Wanqing knew Ji Ruifang didn’t intend to harm her.

Luo Wanqing immediately understood. Xie Minran wanted to absorb her internal energy, and the meridians were attached to the bones. Once her bones were broken and meridians damaged, it would be much more difficult for Xie Minran to absorb internal energy.

In normal times, it wouldn’t matter, but with Xie Minran severely injured, she naturally had to ensure the integrity of this medicinal ingredient.

With this thought, Luo Wanqing immediately grew bolder, switching from defense to offense, striking directly at Ji Ruifang’s vital points.

A flash of surprise crossed Ji Ruifang’s eyes, then she heard Luo Wanqing demand: “What are you going to do to Young Master?!”

“What are we going to do?” Ji Ruifang twisted Luo Wanqing’s arms and pressed her against the wall, saying coldly, “Naturally kill him!”

“Can you afford to kill him?”

Luo Wanqing pushed directly toward an angle that would break her arm. Ji Ruifang was startled and quickly released her grip. Luo Wanqing took advantage to kick Ji Ruifang in the chest, warning: “If Young Master dies here, the court won’t let you go.”

“The court?”

Ji Ruifang grabbed her ankle and dragged her. Luo Wanqing struck palms with her, both their internal energies exploding simultaneously. A tremendous force sent Luo Wanqing flying back three zhang, crashing hard into the wall.

This time, Ji Ruifang didn’t rush over, seemingly afraid of pushing her too far. She said leisurely, “Do you think I don’t have people from the court behind me? Do you think only I want Xie Heng dead? Do you think the Supervision Department, without Xie Heng, still can kill me?”

“Who are you working for?”

Luo Wanqing gasped as she struggled to stand, seeing a young man slowly rise behind the gauze curtains.

Xie Minran had awakened.

But seeing that figure draw his sword instantly, Luo Wanqing knew it wasn’t Xie Minran who had awakened.

Luo Wanqing watched that shadow from the corner of her eye, seeing him stand before the curtains and make a throat-slitting gesture with his shadow.

Luo Wanqing immediately understood.

It was Xie Minsheng.

Xie Minsheng was reminding her, asking her to give him a chance—a chance to kill Ji Ruifang.

Luo Wanqing’s heart raced. She looked at Ji Ruifang watching her with pity, saying softly: “Is this the question you want to ask me?”

“Are you going back on your word?” Luo Wanqing stared at her. “You promised you would release Young Master.”

“I’m sorry.” Ji Ruifang said calmly, “You misjudged me. I’m not a good person.”

Luo Wanqing’s lips trembled slightly. Ji Ruifang continued coldly: “For martial artists, internal energy is stored in true essence, the fundamental root of vital energy and life force. True qi is generated from this. Giving only internal energy without touching the true essence, you could still survive and cultivate anew. But Minran’s injuries are too severe. He needs not only your internal energy, but also the vital energy within your true essence. You won’t survive.”

“What does this have to do with Young Master?” Luo Wanqing grew agitated, observing Xie Minsheng’s movements while questioning Ji Ruifang. “I can die, but why can’t you release him?!”

“Because he deserves to die!”

Ji Ruifang’s words rang out clearly. She picked up the medicine bowl from nearby and walked toward Luo Wanqing.

“Do you know what he’s done? His mother died in the palace. His maternal clan is imprisoned. His cousin and aunt are fugitives. I plotted and schemed to help them escape, to get him to rescue them. And what happened?”

Ji Ruifang smiled. She crouched before Luo Wanqing, grabbing her hair and forcing her to look at her through gritted teeth: “He sold them all out! To save his own life, he sold them all!”

“He didn’t betray you.”

Luo Wanqing gasped: “He just… he just…”

“Just what?” Ji Ruifang stared at Luo Wanqing, eyes full of mockery. “How did he explain it to you? Did he say he had other plans? Did he say that since those people were doomed to die anyway, he might as well trade their lives for his? But those people could have lived.”

Ji Ruifang gritted her teeth: “The Cui family could have escaped from prison. Li Shengzhao and Cui Lianyi could have fled the palace. We were all counting on his help, but he traded that information for his own life! Without him, they all could have lived! Tell me, isn’t that betrayal?”

Luo Wanqing froze. In that instant, an explosion sounded from the distance, shaking the earth.

Luo Wanqing’s face changed dramatically as she lunged toward Ji Ruifang. At the same time, Xie Minsheng’s sword burst through the curtains!

The sword wind was fierce, filled with killing intent. But Ji Ruifang seemed to have sensed it already. As Luo Wanqing lunged at her, she dodged sideways, positioning herself between the two. She struck Xie Minsheng’s Fengchi pressure point behind his head with her elbow while kicking Luo Wanqing hard in the chest.

Pain exploded in Luo Wanqing’s chest. Ji Ruifang kicked over the medicine bowl in Luo Wanqing’s hand. Having gained the advantage, she simply pursued, grabbing Luo Wanqing’s throat before she hit the ground and slamming her against the wall with iron chains, saying coldly: “This is your solution?”

Luo Wanqing gasped. Ji Ruifang sneered: “I was wondering what you were waiting for. You think that waste Xie Minsheng can kill me?! Let me tell you—today you won’t survive, and neither will Xie Heng. I didn’t want to make this too ugly, but if you cooperate, there won’t be any pain.”

“He can survive.”

Luo Wanqing insisted. Ji Ruifang laughed mockingly: “Survive? What makes him think he can survive? Those five hundred Inspectors you arranged outside the palace gates?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s heart trembled.

She suppressed all movement, not letting Ji Ruifang see the slightest difference, only saying: “What are you talking about?”

She asked this, but in her heart, she already knew something had gone wrong.

It wasn’t strange that Ji Ruifang knew Cui Junye had come here, but if they already knew the movements of the five hundred Inspectors, how could they have agreed to negotiate with Cui Heng?

“What am I talking about? Naturally, about your plan.”

Ji Ruifang smiled as she had expected: “I know everything you’re planning to do. I not only know you’ve prepared five hundred Inspectors outside the palace, know that you were sent to protect Xie Heng. I also know that Cui Junye’s coming to negotiate with me was just a pretense. They sent people to rescue Xie Heng—as long as they ensure Xie Heng’s safety, you’ll launch a general attack. And right now, you’re just buying time. Did you hear that sound?”

Ji Ruifang pointed toward the window, telling her, “The mountain is sealed. Those five hundred people can’t get in.”

Luo Wanqing gasped. Ji Ruifang continued: “But Cui Junye came in with the item.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s movements froze as she instantly realized: “You did it on purpose?”

The negotiation was fake. They had deliberately lured Cui Junye to bring the item inside.

From the beginning, they had only used Xie Heng and her as bait to get that item inside.

“Who gave you the information?”

Luo Wanqing suppressed her emotions as she spoke, knowing clearly that something had gone wrong.

Why would the movements of those five hundred Inspectors be known?

Why would Ji Ruifang prepare in advance?

Even more so, why could Li Guiyu and Wang Yunzhi always get information?

Luo Wanqing instantly realized.

Something was wrong—it had been wrong all along.

Since coming south, Li Guiyu had always been able to precisely predict her every move. When they found Wang Hu, Li Guiyu knew; when they obtained information about Liufeng Island from Wang Hu, Li Guiyu also knew; when they entered Liufeng Island to find Xie Minsheng, Li Guiyu knew; when they learned the location of the iron box from Xie Minsheng and Xie Minran awakened early, Li Guiyu and Wang Yunzhi still knew; when the Supervision Department entered Liufeng Island, Wang Yunzhi notified people to scatter in advance, and now when Cui Junye sent people to rescue Xie Heng, Ji Ruifang knew again!

Someone was informing them, someone was leaking information. Who…

“Think about it.”

Ji Ruifang’s expression was calm, not intending to answer.

Think about it.

Luo Wanqing’s breathing quickened as all the information flooded in together.

Only four people had known all this information, and she and Cui Heng couldn’t possibly be the ones leaking it.

So was it Cui Junye… or Xing Ling?

Xing Ling.

The moment this name appeared, Luo Wanqing instantly remembered many things.

“This is Inspector Xing Ling, formerly a palace lady…”

“You must investigate the Eastern Palace Six Commanders?”

“Must investigate.”

“Why?”

“Inspector Cui was harmed by them.”

“I was born in the Lateral Courts, the daughter of a criminal. Thanks to a noble person’s help, who said my bones were good, I got the chance to enter Youlan Courtyard…”

“Isn’t Young Master good?”

“As a Department Head, he’s naturally the best. But as a friend or lover… he’s rather too heartless.”

“The Cui family could have escaped from prison, Li Shengzhao and Cui Lianyi could have fled the palace, we were all counting on his help…”

Palace lady, noble person, Li Shengzhao…

One phrase after another appeared before Luo Wanqing’s eyes, and scenes of Xing Ling’s past expressions flashed before her.

“Is it Xing Ling?”

Luo Wanqing spoke in a daze, staring at Ji Ruifang and saying excitedly: “The ‘you’ you mentioned—it’s Xing Ling, isn’t it?! Li Shengzhao was the one who saved her from the Lateral Courts back then. You gave the Cui family a way out, she saved Li Shengzhao, you sought Xie Heng’s help, but he sold you out, right?!”

Ji Ruifang’s expression was calm, looking down at Luo Wanqing and only asking: “So, does he deserve to die?”

“You’re avenging Cui Qingping, and she’s avenging Li Shengzhao.” Luo Wanqing understood, saying urgently: “Back then, when she wanted to kill the Eastern Palace Six Commanders, it wasn’t for Cui Ziran, it was for the Cui clan! Cui Ziran was just her excuse. At that time, there was no evidence proving the Eastern Palace Six Commanders harmed Cui Ziran, yet she insisted on killing them. She was doing it for Li Shengzhao! She won’t let go of the Eastern Palace Six Commanders, and she won’t let go of Xie Heng either. You’re taking this item to overturn the Cui clan’s case, aren’t you?!”

“Master.”

A soft call came from the side. Luo Wanqing and Ji Ruifang both turned to look, seeing Xie Minran rubbing his neck and slowly getting up from the ground.

Ji Ruifang looked at Xie Minran, seemingly expecting to say: “You’re awake?”

“Master struck so hard.” Xie Minran slowly stood up, looking at Ji Ruifang with a brilliant smile: “You hurt me so much.”

With that, he looked at Luo Wanqing, his face cold: “Master, why waste words with her? What’s the situation now?”

“Qiongyu.”

Ji Ruifang called out: “How are things outside?”

“Palace Master, Xing Ling went to Director Xie’s side a moment ago, and they’ve also made their move at the main hall.” The maidservant’s voice sounded from outside.

Luo Wanqing immediately grew tense upon hearing this.

Xing Ling had gone to Xie Heng, and they’d made their move at the main hall—against Cui Junye?

How many people did Cui Junye have with him?

“But that Zhuque is protecting people so they can’t get close,” the maidservant quickly answered Luo Wanqing’s confusion, saying respectfully, “Sister Kunyu requests Palace Master to come over.”

“As expected,” Xie Minran smiled upon hearing this, rotating his wrists: “I knew that Zhuque would be troublesome. Master, you go. I’ll handle things here.”

“Palace Master Ji!”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately spoke to detain her: “Young Master is also working to overturn the Cui clan’s case. You’re on the same side, there’s no need to…”

“I don’t believe it.”

Ji Ruifang coldly interrupted her: “I won’t let him deceive me a second time.”

“What about Xie Minran…”

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Minran pressed her mute acupoint and covered her mouth, saying gently: “Master, please go.”

“Mm.”

Ji Ruifang responded and walked out.

Unable to speak, Luo Wanqing watched Ji Ruifang leave and began struggling desperately.

The iron chains knocked against the wall. Xie Minran indifferently covered her mouth while the entire room filled with her muffled whimpering sounds. Only after Ji Ruifang had gone far away did Xie Minran slowly release her.

He turned to look at her, saying softly: “What did you want to tell her?”

Unable to speak, Luo Wanqing glared fiercely at Xie Minran. Xie Minran raised his hand and waved, and the maidservant closed the main door.

After everyone around had scattered, Xie Minran bent down to look at Luo Wanqing, using a voice only the two of them could hear to whisper: “Did you want to tell her that I went to the border to intercept and kill Cui Qingping?”

Unable to speak, Luo Wanqing could only give an affirmative answer with her eyes.

Xie Minran shook his head: “You’re such a bad girl. How can you try to drive a wedge between me and Master like this? Don’t even think about it. She’ll never know this information.”

He placed his hand on top of Luo Wanqing’s head, and her body involuntarily began to tremble.

Xie Minran chuckled softly: “You’re about to die.”

With that, Luo Wanqing groaned in muffled sounds, feeling her internal energy uncontrollably rushing toward her skull.

She desperately resisted, but still couldn’t control it.

He was going to kill her.

Luo Wanqing realized this.

But she couldn’t.

She couldn’t just sit there waiting for death.

She had to find a way. She had to get out. She had to survive.

She still had many things to do. Her life was exchanged for Cui Heng’s—she couldn’t die!

She had to find a way, definitely had to find a way.

Luo Wanqing breathed rapidly, cold sweat dripping from her forehead. She felt her whole body’s true qi being manipulated by Xie Minran. Suppressing all panic, she maintained absolute calm, just as originally planned, observing Xie Minran’s internal energy circulation method while beginning to think.

Were there any flaws?

Xie Minsheng—Xie Minsheng was her way out.

But how could Xie Minsheng return?

Was there a pattern to Xie Minran and Xie Minsheng’s switching? Was it once every six hours?

If Xing Ling was an undercover agent, Ji Ruifang and the others had many opportunities to kill her and Cui Heng.

But they didn’t. Instead, they gave Xie Minsheng chances to appear. If they were certain that Xie Minsheng and Xie Minran switched identities according to time and couldn’t be controlled artificially, how dare they let Xie Minsheng appear?

Did Xie Minran and Xie Minsheng appear according to time?

Xie Minsheng had disappeared for several years, and when fighting for that iron box on Liufeng Island, Xie Minran appeared early.

Moreover, the last time she saw Xie Minran on Liufeng Island, he appeared near the hour of Mao. This meant that if they switched identities every six hours, then after Mao today, it should be Xie Minran. However, when she came to this room, she encountered Xie Minsheng.

They didn’t switch identities according to time!

Luo Wanqing thought of how Ji Ruifang had calmly struck Xie Minsheng’s Fengchi acupoint behind his head moments ago. She raised her eyes to look at Xie Minran.

Internal energy slowly flowed toward Xie Minran’s body. Xie Minran said slowly: “Master has always been good to women, and I’ll give you some face too. If you’re more obedient, I won’t make you suffer too much.”

Fengchi acupoint.

Luo Wanqing stared at him, secretly pressing her thumb into her palm.

Xie Minran felt his meridians being nourished and closed his eyes. Luo Wanqing suddenly felt his internal energy’s absorption intensify greatly. Her internal energy rushed toward Xie Minran one after another. Suddenly, Xie Minran’s face changed dramatically as he opened his eyes: “You—”

Before he finished speaking, she dislocated her left thumb, pulled her hand from the shackles with torn skin and blood, and struck hard at Xie Minran’s Tianchi acupoint!

Xie Minran had no time to resist before she pressed down on his head, forcing him to kneel on the ground, turning defense into offense and absorbing all his internal energy into her body.

Xie Minran’s internal energy was too vast, surging in and causing her meridians to burst with pain.

But she couldn’t stop, couldn’t stop!

She had no space for thinking, no room for retreat. Right now, it was either Xie Minran’s death or hers!

She absorbed internal energy too quickly. In no time, Xie Minran suddenly spat out blood. Luo Wanqing felt his meridians depleted and kicked him away.

Xie Minran fell to the ground in embarrassment. Luo Wanqing forcibly suppressed the wildly rushing true qi, raised her head to bite open the Qianji bead bracelet on her hand, bit out a steel wire from it, hung upside down from the iron shackles on the wall, used her abs to help her mouth and broken hand work with the steel wire to pick the lock.

When the chains opened, she quickly dropped to the ground. Taking advantage of Xie Minran’s lack of reaction, she rushed forward, grabbed his throat, and slammed him hard against the wall.

Xie Minran groaned. Luo Wanqing stared nervously at him until he opened his eyes in confusion, saying weakly: “Inspector Liu?”

“Xie Minsheng?”

Luo Wanqing asked warily. Xie Minsheng was stunned for a moment, then said urgently: “Just now… Ji Ruifang…”

“Who told you about the false military achievements in the northwest?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t relax her guard, suppressing the true qi rampaging through her meridians as she asked a question that only she, Cui Heng, and Xie Minsheng had discussed when they were present.

Xie Minran didn’t have Xie Minsheng’s memories—he wouldn’t know.

After a moment of confusion, Xie Minsheng understood her intention and immediately said: “It was Lingshu.”

Luo Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief, quickly released Xie Minsheng, took a blade from the weapon rack nearby, and said urgently: “Senior Xie, I don’t have time to explain much. I need your help now. Xing Ling and Ji Ruifang are working together. They blew up the mountain paths, so the Supervision Department people can’t get in. Cui Junye brought Zhuque and Cui Qingping’s items into Jirui Palace. I have to go save them. Can you disguise yourself as Xie Minran?” Luo Wanqing turned back to give Xie Minsheng the Qianji bead bracelet from her hand. “This contains Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles. Press the third bead—the needle opening is in the opposite bead. Can you help me delay Ji Ruifang?”

The long string of information was too much. After a moment of confusion, Xie Minsheng hesitantly asked: “The internal energy in your body is…”

“It’s yours,” Luo Wanqing didn’t deny it, only staring at him. “Can you do it?”

Hearing her words, Xie Minsheng slowly digested the content. His eyes gradually became determined as he said seriously: “Alright.”

“Then I’m going.”

Luo Wanqing turned to leave. Xie Minsheng reacted and grabbed her, saying urgently: “If you’re going to find Lord Cui, what about Lingshu?”

“Don’t worry, Senior,” Luo Wanqing knew Xie Minsheng would naturally be more concerned about his own junior. She pulled away from Xie Minsheng and comforted him: “Young Master originally infiltrated Jirui Palace deliberately for internal coordination. He’s not seriously injured, and with Young Master’s abilities, he can protect himself. I’ll go save Lord Cui first, then find Young Master to rendezvous. I’ll contact you afterward.”

With that, Luo Wanqing turned to leave. But after just a few steps, she heard Xie Minsheng’s confused voice behind her: “But wasn’t he brought in through the underwater secret passage by Xie Minran after falling into the river?”

At these words, Luo Wanqing turned back in disbelief, seeing Xie Minsheng frowning in confusion: “He was already hit by an arrow and took two palm strikes from Xie Minran. During these days, Ji Ruifang has been whipping him frequently. How could he not be seriously injured? If you go save Lord Cui, what about him?”

“He is Xie Heng?”

Luo Wanqing seemed not to understand his words, speaking with both fear and hope.

Xie Minsheng couldn’t understand: “What?”

“On Liufeng Island,” Luo Wanqing stared at Xie Minsheng, mist involuntarily forming in her eyes, yet she still forced herself to say word by word: “The person who met you was Xie Heng?”

“Naturally.” Xie Minsheng was bewildered. “What’s wrong?”

“He was wearing a human skin mask.” Luo Wanqing’s voice trembled as she suppressed her fear while reminding him: “Are you certain he was Xie Heng?”

“I verified it.” Xie Minsheng said in confusion: “Although I don’t know why he would wear a mask of his face, I watched him grow up. How could I not recognize…”

“I’ll ask you one last time,” Luo Wanqing suddenly raised her voice to interrupt him: “On Liufeng Island, in Jirui Palace—these two people are the same person, both Xie Heng?!”

Xie Minsheng was stunned, then said without hesitation: “Yes.”

The moment the word fell, Luo Wanqing seemed to go mad, turning back to charge straight at the main door and bursting out.

Wild wind swept in through the door. She faced the wind, her hand becoming a blade as she slashed across the throat of the maidservant at the entrance. In the moment of blood splashing, she flipped to seize a blade and charged toward the dungeon, cutting down everyone in her path.

Outside were all the guards. Seeing her, they immediately widened their eyes and pounced.

Luo Wanqing’s blade rose and fell, splashing blood across her face.

She looked at the dense crowd of people, cutting her way forward.

No hesitation, no scheming—everything was instinct.

Just wanting to be faster, even faster.

The piercing bone-deep pain from when Cui Heng fell into the water was still on her body. The thought of the heart-wrenching agony she felt when she heard news of his death was still in her heart.

Though she couldn’t be certain, she couldn’t be completely certain.

But even if there was a one-in-ten-thousand possibility, she couldn’t let him come to any harm in front of her again.

Cui Heng…

Just thinking this name made even her heart tremble.

She ran through the long corridor, killing by instinct, advancing.

She told herself not to think too much, couldn’t think too much—saving people was urgent, nothing was set in stone.

Yet she still couldn’t help but think of long ago, that day when Baili gave her the blade.

Baili had said, “This blade is named ‘Xiling.’ Cui Heng searched for it for a while—it wasn’t easy to obtain. I hope you’ll treasure it well.”

Xiling.

Luo Wanqing’s eyes involuntarily filled with tears. Tears and blood blurred her vision together. Thinking of this name, she suddenly understood its meaning.

The Xi from Xiniang, the Ling from Xie Lingshu.

The Xi from cherishing, the Ling from Xie Lingshu.

He wasn’t without desires.

She suddenly realized that he had always had desires.

But he didn’t tell her.

She thought.

If he were Xie Heng, if he never told her, if today she hadn’t gotten an answer from Xie Minsheng, then in the future, he would just watch her.

Watch her put him on a pedestal, watch her complete his crimes one by one for him, watch her see him off to death, watch her abandon him, and perhaps even say to her: “Xiniang, well done.”

He would leave, leave cleanly.

While she would have to hold this Xiling blade, unknowingly hold this Xiling blade, and spend the rest of her life.

If she never knew for a lifetime, perhaps it would be fine. But if she ever found out, it would be death by a thousand cuts for the rest of her existence.

Xie Heng.

Thinking of this name, thinking of how he had comforted her, saying, “I’m fine.”

She suddenly felt hatred for the first time.

Both painful and hateful.

For the first time in her life, she experienced how a person could be so cruel, using gentleness and love so cruelly.

So cruel that just thinking of him made her hurt.

But how could she blame him for being cruel?

Countless previously puzzling fragments surged forth uncontrollably.

The first time she heard him call Cui Heng’s name, his jaw that resembled Xie Heng’s, the day after he cut his palm at the music gathering, Xie Heng wore gloves, Zhang Chunzi in the heavenly prison telling him he had taught Xie Heng bone reshaping…

She should have known long ago.

Even if she didn’t know in the Eastern Capital, didn’t know on Liufeng Island, she should have known during these days, when he asked “Where is Cui Heng?” upon first seeing her in the Jirui Palace cell, when he called her “Xiniang” over and over in his delirium, when he entwined with her in such a familiar way…

But she didn’t dare.

She never dared.

She was afraid Cui Heng was this person destined to be cut into pieces, afraid Cui Heng was this person who used her as a blade to test and abandon repeatedly, afraid Cui Heng was this person she had pushed toward a dead end all along.

So she avoided it again and again, believed lies again and again, until there was nowhere left to hide.

He hadn’t failed to remind her.

He had given her Xiling; he had said his name was Cui Heng.

Even at Tingfeng Tower, he had waited through that night.

Time and again, he had carefully yet desperately reached out to her, hoping she would respond with courage just once.

But she hadn’t—not once.

Even when he cut himself blade by blade, softly calling her Xiniang.

She still hadn’t.

She had always hoped he wasn’t Xie Heng.

So he was willing to let Cui Heng not be Xie Heng.

But he was indeed, very likely, the one she had avoided, feared, and pushed toward death—

Xie Heng, Xie Lingshu.

Author’s Note:

New Year’s return, Happy Valentine’s Day~~

[Mini Theater 1]

Luo Wanqing: “Xie Heng, wait for me to come over—you’re dead.”

Cui Heng: “I told you to run long ago!!!”

[Mini Theater 2]

Luo Wanqing: “It’s him, it’s him, it’s him, it’s him—my boyfriend, Xie Lingshu!! After 116 chapters, I finally know my boyfriend’s name!!”